Tie rack



Oct. 18, 1949. WA. ODENCRANTZ- ET AL 5 TIE RACK Filed Dec. 26, 1944 f/z/M fizz/M.-

Patented Oct. 18,1949

PATENT OFFICE TIE RACK William A. Odencrantz and Clarence W. J orgensen, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 26, 1944, Serial No. 569,689

6 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in tie racks for the home, though it may be used for other purposes and in other places.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of such a rack which is extremely convenient in use, in which a tie may be hung on it by a simple and natural one-hand operation, in which the ties are suspended in full face view so that one may see at a glance without fumbling therethrough what the ties are like, and in which the desired tie may be removed by a simple, gentle pull thereon without displacement or disturbance of the others on the rack.

Further objects of the invention are the provision of such a rack on which the ties may be suspended and removed without injury, wrinkling or mussing, and in which they are suspended in the best way to maintain and enhance that con- I dition.

Still further objects are the provision of a rack which is neat and unobtrusive in appearance and devoid of unsightly and dangerous pegs or other projections extending forwardly from the rack, which is rugged in construction, capable of long life and satisfactory service in use, and economical in manufacture.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the detailed description and claims to follow, in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show an embodiment of the invention by way of illustration and not of limitation, and in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of this embodiment as the same would be mounted on a wall or other 35 support; I

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the parts when no tie or other article is suspended in the clamps;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the tie in position on the clamp in position to be inserted in the clamp;

Fig 4 is a similar view on the plane indicated by the line 4--4 of Fig. l, the full lines showing the fold of the tie about to enter the clamp, and the dotted lines showing the position of the parts at the extreme end of the movement before releasing the thumb pressure;

Fig. 5 is a similar cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the tie clamped in the rack; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the two end members or blocks of the bar.

Referring to these drawings and to the specific embodiment shown, the rack comprises an inverted narrow channel bar generally designated 35 tie which is inserted therein.

by the numeral I0, preferably formed of two sheet-metal strips II and I2, the rear or inner strip I2 being bent over to form the closed top edge I 3 of. the bar and having a depending flange 5 or edge portion I4 overlapping the upper edge of the front side strip II.

The lower edge I5 of this front strip is formed to slope inwardly and constitutes the front and stationary jaw or member of the clamp or clamps l for the upper ends of ties or articles to be suspended from the rack.

The other member or members of the article clamps consist of vertical spring-metal strips or fingers I6, preferably formed as indicated and attached in any desired way at their upper ends,

as by spot-welding, indicated at IT, at the inside upper edge of the front strip I I of the bar, which may be readily done prior to assembly of the members I I and I2. These vertical metal springs I6 are spaced in their body portions from the inner face of front II, as by the offset bends I8 adjacent their fixed ends to give room therebetween without undue compression for the article clamped, such for instance as the loose fold in a These clamping springs I6 extend below the front stri II of the bar and are curved forwardly as at I9 and springbiased or tensioned forwardly to form, with the lower edge I5 of front strip II, the clamp or clamps for the ties or other articles. The lower forwardly bent ends of these springs are preferably reversely bent as at 20, to form thumb pieces or the like for the manual operation of the springs in opening the clamps to receive the articles to be suspended from the rack, as will be further explained.

In order to keep these front and rear strips I I and I2 in proper position and to afford a convenient means for attaching the tie bar to a vertical wall or other similar support, a block 2| is preferably provided, which may be of wood, at each end. This block or plug hasa reduced projection 22, like a tenon, extending a short dis- 'tance between the plates or strips II and I2 at their ends and of a thickness properly to space them apart. The inner plate I2 is firmly secured thereto as by a screw 23 and the extreme end of the outer plate, strip or side I I enters with a driv- 5 ing or close fit a shallow slot or kerf 24 in the The depth of the front and back strips II and,

12 lends rigidity to the elongated bar in a vertical direction and the upper edge plate l3, flange i4 and lower inwardly bent edge l5 of plate ll give it added strength against lateral bending. The plate ll may also be secured to the flange M, if desired, as by spot-welding or otherwise.

These end blocks 2| are preferably provided with apertures through which attaching screws 25, one at each end, may be passed to secure the bar horizontally to a vertical wall 26 or other support. They are also preferably of a depth to space the inner plate I 2 a small distance from the surface, as indicated, to avoid any unevenness in the surface between points of attachment and to give free room for the fingers of the hand which may be around the tie in placing it in a clamp; also to suspend the ties freely from the wall. By placing these attachments at the ends of the bar it may be mounted in places where the plane of the wall is not continuous between the points of attachment or where it is desired to span a space between supports.

The lower edge of the back plate I2 serves as a back stop for the spring clips [6, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and prevents them from being pressed back so far as to endanger their mountings on front plate H, or being bent out of their intended form, or impairing their forward spring-set properly to co-operate with edge 15 of plate l2 for clamping purposes. This is not only of advantage in the use of the device, particularly if the bar spans an opening between supports, but also when the article is on display for sale or demonstration, when, whether intentionally or not, the springs are continually being bent backward as far as they will go.

By. making the face of the end blocks 2! extend forward, as at 27, beyond the face of the bar, protection is afforded against accidental contact with the ends of the metal strips, room is given for the slot or kerf 2d therein for front strip I I, and by rounding the front corners thereof an ornamental appearance of same and protection against sharp corners thereof are provided. To furtherenhance the appearance, the face of the end members around the screw holes may be ornamented in any desired way.

To insert a tie 28, for example, in the clamp of the holder, the tie, as usual, being folded midway of its length and loosely held in the hand near the fold, the folded end is laid over the spring end and thumb piece and the inclined portion I5 of the outer plate ll. Then, by slight pressure of the thumb on the tie over the thumb piece, the piece, the spring is pressed back, the clamp opened and the loosely folded end of the tie draws down below the edge 15 of the clamp and snaps or quickly enters into the open clamp. The pressure is then relieved and the tie remains lightly clamped between the stationary edge 15 of the front strip I i and the spring strip I6 in the rear; with the fold loosely in between. The tie is thus suspended face outward for convenient view and without crimping or mussing, and all with the natural movements of one hand only.

When it is desired to remove a tie, the ties can be inspected at a glance, without fumbling therethrough, and the one selected be withdrawn by a gentle downward pull on the same, such pull, if the same were needed, tending to open the clamp by pressing against the forward curved end of spring [6. This possibility for quick selection is of considerable importance, to the hurried dresser particularly, for with the ties all spread out comparisons are readily made among them and with the wearers clothing and the appropriate tie may be speedily chosen.

These various movements are intended to be illustrated generally in Figs. 3 to 5, where, in Fig. 3, the looped end of tie 28 is shown temporarily resting against the curved end I9 of the spring and the sloping edge E5 of the front strip 1 I, with the thumb against the tie over the thumb piece 20. In Fig. 4 the full lines indicate the position when pressure has been partly applied and the end of the tie is about to slip off the edge [5 into the clamp. The dotted lines in this figure are intended to show what happens upon full pressure being applied. The end of the tie has snapped or quickly moved into position within the clamp. Fig. 5 shows the same when the hand has been taken away. The loosely folded end of the tie is lightly clamped in position and the tie hangs naturally therefrom.

While the device thus lends itself to this convenient and simple one-hand operation, and by its construction, arrangement and obvious operation invites and naturally leads the user to adopt and follow the practice, it is capable of being operated by both hands, if desired, one depressing the spring and the other inserting the tie, but that is not necessary or usually desired.

The bar, of course, may be of any length desired and clamping springs spaced or located along the length thereof to accommodate one or more ties or articles which it may be desired to suspend therefrom. The rack may be used as a holder for hot pads, ties, towels, washcloths, etc., and as a display rack in stores. Variations in dimensions and proportion may also be made, but those of the sectional views in the drawing which illustrate the same substantially in full size or scale are preferred for home tie-rack purposes. The exposed outer faces of the bar may be finished or ornamented as desired, and for sake of contrast different colors or other finish may be applied to the outer faces of the two members constituting the elongated bar.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A tie rack or the like comprising a sheetmetal U or channel bar having front and rear strips, means for securing said bar horizontally and inverted to a wall or similar support, the lower edge of the front strip being sloped inwardly to form the outer member of a clamp for the article to be suspended, and a vertical spring finger in the bar welded at its upper end to the inside of the front strip and extending below the same, said spring being spaced in its body portion from said front strip and extending forwardly below the same and biased to form theinner member of said clamp, the lower end of said spring forming a pressure thumb-piece for opening the clamp, and said rear strip of said bar forming a stop for said spring when pressed rearwardly.

2. A rack for ties comprising an elongated supporting bar adapted to be attached horizontally and fiatwise to a wall in spaced relation thereto, said bar having an inwardly extending and sloping lower edge portion, a plurality of vertical spring strips back of said bar in spaced relation therealong, said strips being fixed at their upper ends and spaced in their body portions from said bar and curving forwardly below to form with the free edge of said sloping portion individual spring clamps for the ties, said clamps having room above the gripping portions thereof to receive and hold the folds of the ties in uncompressed condition, each said spring strip also sloping forwardly below said inwardly sloping edge portion of the bar and terminating in an end to be depressed to open the clamp, said forwardly sloping spring portion forming with the slope of the bar a receiving depression into which the folded end of the tie may be pressed.

3. A tie rack adapted to be attached to a wall comprising a horizontal flat member mounted fiatwise on and in spaced relation to the support and having a lower inwardly extending and sloping edge portion, a vertical spring strip back of said member, said strip being fixed at its upper end and spaced in its body portion from said member and curving forwardly below to form with the free edge of said sloping portion a spring clamp for the tie, said clamp having room above the gripping portion thereof to receive and hold the fold of the tie in uncompressed condition, said spring strip also sloping forwardly below said inwardly sloping edge portion of the member and. terminating in an end to be depressed to open the clamp, said forwardly sloping spring portion forming with the slope of the bar a receiving groove or depression into which the folded end of the tie may be pressed.

4. A rack for ties comprising an elongated supporting bar adapted to be attached horizontally and fiatwise to a wall or similar support and in spaced relation thereto, said bar having an inwardly extending and sloping lower edge portion, a plurality of vertical spring strips back of said bar in spaced relation therealong, said strips being fixed at their upper ends and spaced in their body portions from said bar and curving forwardly below to form with the free edge of said sloping portion individual spring clamps for the ties, said clamps having room above the gripping portions thereof to receive and hold the folds of the ties in uncompressed condition, each said strip extending below the bar and adapted to be pressed by the thumb as the fingers of the hand encircle the tie in the act of depressing the spring strip to push and insert the tie in the holder.

5. A rack for ties comprising an elongated supporting bar adapted to be attached horizontally and fiatwise to a wall, said bar having an inwardly extending and sloping lower edge portion, a plurality of vertical spring strips back of said bar in spaced relation therealong, said strips being fixed at their upper ends to said bar and curving forwardly to form with the free edge of said sloping portion individual spring clamps for the ties, each said spring strip also sloping forwardly below said edge portion of the bar and terminating in an end to be depressed to open the clamp, said forwardly sloping spring portion forming with the slope of the bar a receiving depression into which the folded end of the tie is adapted to be pressed, the folded end of the tie snapping under the edge of the bar and into the clamp.

6. A tie rack comprising a bar of spaced front and back members, means for securing said bar horizontally to a wall or similar support, the lowor edge of the front member being sloped inwardly to form the outer member of a clamp for the ties to be suspended therefrom, and a vertical spring finger in the bar secured at its upper end to the bar and extending below the bar, said spring finger being spaced in its body portion from said front strip to loosely accommodate the folded end of the tie and extending forwardly below the same and biased to form the inner member of said clamp, the lower end of the spring forming a pressure thumb piece for opening the clamp and the insertion of the tie therein by the same act and said rear member of said bar forming a stop for said spring when pressed rearwardly.

WILLIAM A. ODENCRANTZ.

CLARENCE W. JORGENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,602,341 Day Oct. 5, 1926 2,026,746 Moore Jan. 7, 1936 2,143,119 Waring Jan. 10, 1939 2,179,771 Wienand Nov. 14, 1939 2,209,953 Youngquist Aug. 6, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 273,878 Great Britain July 14, 1927 743,608 France Jan. 10, 1933 

